Almost two years since she joined the IT Business Group, art director Lisa de Nikolits has already helped oversee a complete redesign of Computer Dealer News and the transformation of InfoSystems Executive into EDGE. This month’s redesign of Technology In Government,

on the other hand, was another matter entirely. Unlike the other projects, the TIG overhaul included a change from tabloid-style newspaper to a more traditional magazine format.

“”We wanted to design the book so that it has a unique style and personality,”” says de Nikolits, who with editor Kathleen Sibley decided to use an illustration rather than a photograph to grace the inaugural cover. “”It also was important that the design have longevity, be consistent and yet flexible.””

Michelle Douglass went out in search of wireless opportunities for resellers in the most recent issue of Computer Dealer News. It didn’t take her long to find them.

“”People are always surprised when I tell them how many WiFi hot spots there are in Canada,”” says Douglass. “”They’re everywhere — even in Timmins, Ont. I’m always on the lookout for WiFi hot spots now and I tend to point them out to travel companions.””

Douglass, a former editor of CDN, returns to her channel roots whenever she’s not busy at her day job with the Montreal Gazette.

“”It seems amazing that so many people fail to take advantage of wireless networks’ basic security features, but that’s human nature,”” says regular IT Business Group contributor Grant Buckler, who looked at the perils of 802.11 in a recent issue of Communications & Networking. “”In the early days of PCs. there were lots of articles giving basic advice to new PC owners — such as ‘keep food and drink away from the keyboard.’ I wrote such advice myself several times, always with a cup of coffee at hand. Sure enough, I eventually spilled a beer into my keyboard. The consequences of neglecting wireless security can be bit more serious — maybe people will learn once they get burned.””

Buckler also penned the cover story for this month’s C&N, which explores how voice-over-IP can throw a wrench into network testing.

Computing Canada editor-at-large Lynn Greiner is a highly knowledgeable IT user who regularly contributes to our Benchmark section, which means she knows all about products that don’t work as well as expected. That’s one of the reasons we asked her to read Kim Vicente’s The Human Factor — Revolutionizing The Way People Live with Technology.

“”The man has a wonderful grasp on how humans and technology interact,”” she says. “”I wish he’d been involved in the design of my car . . . there are a couple of stupidities in the controls that drive me absolutely nuts!””

Greiner’s review of the book recently appeared as the top story on ITBusiness.ca.